PR Community Torn Over Rise Of Brand Journalism

a third of respondents even say they have never been contacted by brand journalists

Unique study about content marketing and PR

Year three of exclusive research

Mixed picture again – acceptance versus those who see “bias”

Brand content metrics need to be shared with PRs

(London, 17 May, 2017) – PR professionals are split between those who see the opportunity in the rise of brand content and content marketing, as opposed to those who consider it inherently biased or helping competitors. That’s according to this year’s research carried out by Collective Content and ResponseSource.

The survey of 348 UK-based PRs – 96 of whom work in-house, the rest at agencies – was carried out in February and March this year. Among a range of findings, the research found:

• Those who say so-called brand journalists are treated ‘on a par with traditional journalists, was up on 2016 – 25.8% of respondents either say they are now or will be within a year.
• However, those PRs who say these content creators will never be treated equally when they engage with PRs was also up – at 33.1% of our sample as opposed to 27.4% a year ago.
• While brands are becoming more effective at determining the success of content marketing for themselves, they aren’t letting PRs in on the metrics. PRs said it is “difficult to carry out due diligence” on brand publications.
• It is common for PRs to consider brand publications biased. Just over two thirds of PRs who don’t treat brand journalists equally cited “conflict between those paying for the content and your own company/client”.
• There is a greater understanding than ever of terms such as ‘content marketing’, ‘native advertising’, ‘brand storytelling’ and indeed ‘brand journalist/journalism’.

Will there be more cooperation in the future?

The study shows change in attitudes is gradual. The spectrum of views from UK PRs is also broad. And, as in past years, a third of respondents even say they have never been contacted by brand journalists – which is almost impossible to believe – showing there are fundamental issues over interactions with this fast-growing area of content creation.

All of this leaves the subject as one that needs more attention – for the good of PRs, brand journalists and the brands they represent.

Collective Content MD Tony Hallett said: “We have long passed the point at which more content is produced by brands than by traditional media. PRs can see this as an opportunity – great content can be great because of PR input, or can be created by PRs. There are naturally issues that need working out – for example, would you contribute to a rival’s brand content? – but in many ways this is a natural step for the PR community.”

ResponseSource Founder and Chairman Daryl Willcox said: “PRs by their very nature are wary of how their clients will be perceived and they know that brands are no different. The rise in brand-created content is not something to be dismissed. Collaboration between PRs and brand journalists is a natural step forward and an opportunity that can yield great results for both sides.”

This year’s study also considers:

• The tactics used with traditional journalists that aren’t (usually) employed for brand journalists.
• The greater acceptance of native advertising – often created by brand journalists – than ever before.
• What PRs said about the bias or “fixed agenda” of certain brand content.

Download the full report: Will PR and content marketing play together nicely? LINK

Methodology:
There were 382 UK respondents from the ResponseSource database to an online survey during the months of February and March 2017. Of these, 348 were in PR, with 252 (72%) at agencies and the remaining 96 (28%) in-house. The other 34 were not in PR but often in related fields such as marketing roles. The focus of the report is on the PR community in the UK.